When fast-casual chain Zoës Kitchen Inc. debuted on the New York Stock Exchange last April, the Plano, Texas–based Mediterranean-style eatery recorded its initial public offering at $87.5 million. Satisfying an investor appetite for investments within the trendy fast-casual space, Zoës’ strong...

It's that time of the year again: QSR is looking for the quick-service industry’s best franchise deals. Weighing investment figures, sales trends, and corporate support, among other things, we've produced one the industry's annual can't-miss franchise reports for the last five years.
Think your...

Desserts have been part of the limited-service restaurant landscape for decades. Whether it’s cookies, cakes, pies, ice cream, or other goodies, consumers continue to seek these typically indulgent items to add to their meal or as a stand-alone treat.
In recent years, operators have added numerous...

Selling food for profit dates back to the evolution of human society itself: from outside eateries in ancient Rome and China to the evolution of fine dining in France to the mushrooming of the fast-food industry, drive thru, and takeaway inns in the last decade. Restaurants have changed along with...

Rich Hicks has reached the height of success in the restaurant industry, with his quick-service concepts being heralded with accolades and catapulting him into the spot of a top-ranked entrepreneur. And like so many other leaders in the business, his career began at the bottom, working as a...

While breakfast may not be the quick-service industry’s biggest daypart, there could be enough demand for breakfast foods to become a daylong staple.
According to the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) 2015 Restaurant Industry Forecast, seven out of 10 consumers say they want restaurants to...

It’s the time of year when limited-time offers with a seafood slant start migrating onto menus. Quick-serve operators have long served fish sandwiches and other seafood specials during Lent, a six-week period between Ash Wednesday and Easter in which many consumers reduce their consumption of...

A number of quick serves are rolling out limited-time seafood offers for Lent, but Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s aim to raise the stakes with a new seafood item that is a bit saintly—and maybe a bit sinful.
“We know that fish is a must-carry item during Lent so we typically have a fish sandwich product...

Philly’s Best, the Southern California destination for authentic Philly cheesesteaks and hoagies, announced the opening of its San Clemente location, marking the company’s 22nd restaurant. The San Clemente store is franchised and operated by Orange County local father-son team,...

KFC has launched a new broadcast initiative showing how KFC’s chicken nuggets are the nuggets kids didn’t know they were missing, until they tried them. The campaign includes both broad market and a new Hispanic initiative, the latter created by Louisville-based ad agency Scoppechio.

The Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF), the premier leadership development organization for women in the foodservice sector, announced the recipients of its 2015 top awards: The Fritzi Pikes Woods Trailblazer Award, SOAR Award, Volunteer of the Year Award, and Outstanding Board Service Award. The...

The Subway brand, comprising the world's largest "family" of small business owners - its franchisees - today revealed several key growth milestones in 2014, including the opening of the 30,000th North American store on the George Mason University campus.

Chopt Creative Salad Company, a farm-to-fast-foodrestaurant based in New York City, is coming to North Carolina this summer. With roots in reinventing the classic salad in 2001 and spurring the rise of salad in New York City and Washington, DC, the salad specialists at Chopt are heading to Queen...

Though U.S. consumption is well below other proteins today, seafood will likely be an increasingly important part of the American diet in the years to come. The country’s population is predicted to grow by 89 million between 2010 and 2050 to 401 million people. More people require more food—and...

Convenience stores are increasingly taking a larger slice out of the quick-serve pie with fresh food offerings. It’s become such a lucrative business for C-stores that Sheetz, the Pennsylvania-based C-store chain that this week opened its 500th location, is planning stores designed more as fast...

When Lori Newcomb found out she had stage III ovarian cancer last year, she made it her mission to learn more about the disease and help other women fighting the same battle. She sat down with her husband, Chris Newcomb, cofounder and CEO of Southern quick-service chain Newk’s Eatery, and together...

When fast-casual chain Zoës Kitchen Inc. debuted on the New York Stock Exchange last April, the Plano, Texas–based Mediterranean-style eatery recorded its initial public offering at $87.5 million. Satisfying an investor appetite for investments within the trendy fast-casual space, Zoës’ strong...

Kevin Kester’s family has been farming in the U.S. for generations. And it’s not just a couple of generations they’ve been farming; more like generations upon generations, way back to the 1600s, specifically in California since the 1860s. Today, Kester owns a 22,000-acre beef cattle ranch in...

While the fast-casual category continues to be the fastest-growing industry sector, the road in 2015 will be bumpy. We will see constant change and challenges around every corner. For industry leaders, there are issues that will keep even the most seasoned executive awake at night.
Here is my top...